NTDaily4-18-12

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Women’s golf team tumbles a spot in tournament Sports | Page 3

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

News 1 Arts & Life 2 Sports 3 Views 4 Classifieds 5 Games 5

Volume 99 | Issue 50

ntdaily.com

The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas

UNT unveils new high tech cooling system NICOLE BALDERAS Senior Staff Writer

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday introduced the North Power Plant - the newest addition to the university’s chilled water loop system that is expected to save the university more than $60 million in 20 years, according to a press release. The plant, which is next to the Physics Building, houses three new chill water units as part of a $42 million project that added the units and 5.82 miles of underground piping, which replaced old steel piping that had rotted in the ground. “What drove the project was the rotten pipe,” said Ken Wheat, Schneider Electric construction manager, in an interview Tuesday. “It was leaking water and was in really bad shape, so the university decided to replace it.” The project was a collaboration between UNT Facilities and Schneider Electric and will provide a more energy efficient air-conditioning system for 39 of the campus buildings.

The new piping is high-density polyethylene pipe, which – unlike steel piping – is already insulated. The piping is flexible, which made it easier to install. “Instead of digging ditches to install the new pipe, they were directionally drilled,” Wheat said. With the addition of the three new units, there are five chillers on campus, with two in the Highland Street Parking Garage – known as the South Plant. Computers are able to detect the levels of energy needed to cool each building and in turn, control the speed of the pumps and fan that help create the energy. “They [the chill water units] are talking on computers through an underground fiber optic connection,” Wheat said. “There are five chillers, but they are controlled as though they are one, and they only run as much as they are needed to.” Project manager Daryl Cox said there is still more piping to be installed. “We’re about one-and-a-half years into a two-and-a-half year project,” Cox said.

PHOTO BY PATRICK HOWARD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Schneider Electric Energy Solutions Senior Vice President James Potach (left) and UNT Assistant Vice President for Facilities Charles Jackson (right) prepare to cut the ribbon with UNT President V. Lane Rawlins (center) during a ceremony and open house celebrating upgrades to UNT’s chilling system Tuesday morning at the UNT North Power Plant. “By modernizing this plant we have greatly increased our energy efficiency,” Rawlins said in a short speech prior to the ribbon cutting.

Boarding prohibited in streets TAMS to add tuition fee J.P. LUGO

HOLLY H ARVEY

Students who use skateboards or longboards around campus may run the risk of getting a citation, unless they can abide by a city ordinance that prohibits boarding on a roadway. Corporal John DeLong of the UNT Police Department said that according to a City of Denton ordinance, students cannot ride boards down the road specifically, as it runs a hazard risk. DeLong also said that though there aren’t any rules against riding on the sidewalk or through campus, students may be ticketed for reckless riding, not giving the right-of-way to pedestrians or participating in other unlawful acts, such as grinding on concrete with the boards. “They can ride on sidewalks, across the street at a crosswalk, but they just can’t be traveling down the street,” DeLong said. “They need to travel in a straight line across the street.” Pre-biology freshman Collin Perry, who often skates to class, said that before getting a warning from a campus officer outside of Kerr Hall, he was unaware of any laws against riding. “I hadn’t heard of any laws

UNT’s Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science will re-implement a yearly program charge of $1,300 starting in fall 2012, TAMS Dean Richard Sinclair said. TAMS previously implemented the program charge from 2003 until 2009, when the Texas Legislature increased allotment for students and TAMS received additional funding. However, the legislature reduced public education funding and cut TAMS special item funding by 25 percent in 2011, resulting in the reinstitution of the program charge, Sinclair said. “I hate having to increase the price. I don’t want to do it,” Sinclair said. “Hopefully this charge will be temporary, depending on the future legislative decisions.” TAMS is a two-year program in which high school students attend college classes and live on campus while also conducting research in mathematics and science. Applications to TAMS have increased 12 percent in the last year, Sinclair said. The program has 376 students enrolled this

Intern

Senior Staff Writer

PHOTO BY JORDAN FOSTER/INTERN

General studies sophomore James Walker takes a ride down Sandy Lake Drive. Walker said that he has had to look for new and safer places to skate, always keeping safety in mind as well as courtesy to the residents living on the street.

“... they just can’t be traveling down the street ...”

—John Delong UNT Police Department

beforehand,” Perry said. “I’ve seen a kid who was hit by a car once while riding on his bike. I don’t see why they’re enforcing skateboard laws while other

things are happening around here [on campus].” Residents and students can be ticketed for skating in a parking lot if it is associated with another act such as criminal mischief. DeLong said that if anyone has a problem with the ordinance, they should make Denton aware of their issue, not only the police department. “If they disagree with something that’s a law or ordinance, I would recommend them go to a City of Denton Council meeting, and talk to the lawmakers and voice their opinion,” DeLong said.

PHOTO BY TYLER CLEVELAND/VISUALS EDITOR

Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science students study Tuesday, while university rejection letters hang on the wall in the Mac Café of McConnell Hall. TAMS tuition will add a $1,300 program charge in fall 2012. semester. “Kids can graduate early from college through TAMS, and it’s a worthwhile investment,” Sinclair said. “More people than ever are trying to get in the door.” Without the addition of the program charge, TAMS students pay about $7,700 for expenses and room and board fees. Sinclair said other possible options to save money include filling open rooms in McConnell Hall with college students and reducing TAMS services such as academic counselors. “We don’t own the halls; UNT Housing does,” Sinclair said. “Putting college students in with

TAMS students would be an absolute last resort.” Graduating TAMS senior Coralyn Bingman will not be affected by the increase but said the charge is concerning people. “Some of my friends are a bit worried,” Bingman said. “The price increase is happening, so most people are just trying accepting it.” TAMS junior Sally Tran said because of the increase, her family will have to be more careful with money. “I will still be able to attend TAMS, but I’ll have to cut back on spending and on things like vacation,” Tran said.

On-campus graffiti crimes up from last year DAVID L ANDER Intern

The number of graffiti-related crimes per mont h is up this semester compared to last year, according to the UNT Police Department. Last yea r g ra f f it i cr i me rates averaged 1.4 reported ca ses per mont h, but t he average this year, from Jan. 1 to April 15, is about 2.5, said Corporal John DeLong of the UNT Police Department. “It seems there are several individuals that are committ i ng t he cr i me of g ra f f it i

“Some of the patterns of the graffiti are similar in style ...”

— John DeLong UNT Police Department

a round t he UNT campus,” DeLong said. “Some of the patterns of the graffiti are si m i la r i n st y le, but due

to ongoing invest igat ions, t he pa r t icu la rs ca n not be discussed.” DeLong said that 24 out of 26 incidences during the past t wo years occurred on the west side of campus. “Everyone is mad that their property got tagged, but it’s being tagged by people that don’t ow n proper t y,” sa id a local graffiti tagger, who will remain anonymous. “It’s being tagged by people to whom this weird concept of private property here in the United States being valued

above everything else is just alien.” The tagger said they refuse to tag buildings t hat have “some kind of merit or value to society,” instead viewing the tagging of bleak walls or parking garages as “more of a victimless crime.” To prevent vandalism and ot her cr i mes on ca mpus, DeL ong sa id U N T pol ice of f icers pat rol ca mpus “24/7/365.”

To see a photo slideshow visit NTDaily.com

PHOTO BY JORDAN FOSTER/INTERN

A UNT police cruiser passes a piece of graffiti on a wall across from the Sullivant Public Safety Center. The number of graffiti-related crimes is up this semester as opposed to last year, according to the UNT Police Department.

Inside Jewish graphic novel class to debut in fall Arts and Life | Page 2

Softball team tries to pick up win against Sooners Sports | Page 3

This week’s nods and shakes Views | Page 4


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NTDaily4-18-12 by North Texas Daily - Issuu